A N I M P E R I A L E D I C T R E S T R A I N I N G O F F I C I A L S F R O M E V I L B y t h e H o n g w u E m p e r o r ( Z h u Y u a n z h a n g )
Questions: 1. On what philosophical assumptions are the Hongwu emperor’s words and actions based?
Confucianism
2. Do you think that his actions will solve the problems he refers to? Why or why not? No, because punishing because he thinks they are wrong is a wrong thing to do. I think he should prove they are wrong not threat them.
Questions: 1. Does the emperor’s approach to solving the problem of evil behavior in this excerpt differ from that in the first? If so, how?
In the second, he is more suggestive (Please do...) than the first, he is more like a threat to them.
2. On what philosophical assumptions are Hongwu’s words here based? Think Chinese philosophy. Confucianism, maybe Buddhist beliefs
3. As an official, what would be your reaction to the emperor’s admonitions? I would be surprised how the emperor ignored the temptation, and trashed away music, women, and valuable objects to achieve success.
4. The emperor clearly holds himself up as a model of self-restraint for his officials to emulate. As an official, how would you take this? Mr.Plouffe: "I would take it well. If the leader is showing moral behavior, I would emulate that. "
I wasn't sure..
5. Would your reaction be changed if you suddenly learned that the Hongwu emperor had dozens of concubines and consorts, with whom he fathered twenty-six sons and sixteen daughters? Yes, I would be a bit more surprised of his actions, because in the readings above, it states that he avoided the temptation and left behind the entertainment for success, and if he was fathered 26 sons, and 16 daughters, with dozens of concubines, and consorts, I would be more disappointed and surprised.
B y t h e H o n g w u E m p e r o r ( Z h u Y u a n z h a n g )
Questions:
1. On what philosophical assumptions are the Hongwu emperor’s words and
actions based?
Confucianism
2. Do you think that his actions will solve the problems he refers to? Why or
why not?
No, because punishing because he thinks they are wrong is a wrong thing to do. I think he should prove they are wrong not threat them.
Questions:
1. Does the emperor’s approach to solving the problem of evil behavior in this
excerpt differ from that in the first? If so, how?
In the second, he is more suggestive (Please do...) than the first, he is more like a threat to them.
2. On what philosophical assumptions are Hongwu’s words here based? Think Chinese philosophy.
Confucianism, maybe Buddhist beliefs
3. As an official, what would be your reaction to the emperor’s admonitions?
I would be surprised how the emperor ignored the temptation, and trashed away music, women, and valuable objects to achieve success.
4. The emperor clearly holds himself up as a model of self-restraint for his
officials to emulate. As an official, how would you take this?
Mr.Plouffe: "I would take it well. If the leader is showing moral behavior, I would emulate that. "
I wasn't sure..
5. Would your reaction be changed if you suddenly learned that the Hongwu
emperor had dozens of concubines and consorts, with whom he fathered
twenty-six sons and sixteen daughters?
Yes, I would be a bit more surprised of his actions, because in the readings above, it states that he avoided the temptation and left behind the entertainment for success, and if he was fathered 26 sons, and 16 daughters, with dozens of concubines, and consorts, I would be more disappointed and surprised.